A mixed plate of fun foods for lunch!
The appetizer was a pile of Red Hot n Blues – crunchy!
The entrée was my leftover salmon with roasted fennel, carrots and beets. Goat cheese for the win!
And for dessert – juicy local peach!! I have had the hardest time finding local organic peaches. I asked all the vendors at the market about sprays and they all said they spray. I hate to go to Whole Foods and get organic peaches from another state. Normally I’d say local > organic, but…I’m pregnant and they are at the top of the dirty dozen. I bought the local ones and washed them well, but what would you do?
Lemonade water
Nursery noshin’!
Khushboo says
I would have opted for local too- organic or not, who knows what fruit brought in frm another state is exposed to during shipment!
Allie@LiveLaughEat says
Phew! Ya got that goat cheese in there this time 🙂
KathEats says
🙂 And now it’s all gone 🙁
Caroline @ After Dinner Dance says
I think local is fine despite the dirty dozen. I just had the most delicious nectarine of my life this afternoon! Next time I’m slicing because it got allll over me!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I need some of that lemonade water right about now. I over salted lunch and am overly parched! Your lunch looks delicious and your beverage refreshing!
Christine says
I would think washing a local peach would be the best. I wouldn’t worry too much about it if you are washing it. That’s what I did with my pregnancies and I had 4 healthy kids!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
the goat cheese on top of that salmon looks delicious! You can’t go wrong with goat cheese!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
The peach looks delish! We have heaps of peaches here locally grown in Ontario but I don’t think many of the Ontario peaches I’ve been finding in the supermarkets are organic. I could go out of my way to find the organic ones (at specialty stores etc) but sometimes I just don’t have time so I buy the local (unorganic) ones, and do like you said – wash them really really well.
Logan says
Does peeling them do the same thing as washing as far as “non” organic fruit? I can’t stand peach skin but I love fresh peaches more than any other fruit so I always peel mine.
Andrea says
Peeling inorganic fruit with a skin does help with getting rid of some of the pesticide residue. But, there have been many studies that show that pesticides absorb into fruits and vegetables, regardless of a skin. Local vs. organic can be a very hard decision at times. Kath, I would say go with whatever is most important to YOU. If you would feel more comfortable eating organic peaches while you are pregnant, then I would say go out of your way to buy them. It’s only five more weeks… if you’d want to go back to buying local ones after babykerf arrives, then do that! That is what I would do if I were you, at least.
RunEatRepeat says
More importantly, “What would Beyonce do?”
KathEats says
🙂
Sarah @ In Sustainability and in Health says
I would opt for local, too! Even if non-local peaches are grown organically, they can still be exposed to fumes and chemicals in the shipping process. You can really never know!
Also, eating local peaches means they were more likely harvested at peak ripeness and have more nutrients! And taste better, or course!
Jen says
How do you make the decision about organic vs. non-organic? I know a month or so ago you were eating non-organic (And non-local?) cherries. Those are also on the dirty dozen list, as well as not being local. I’m not trying to offend, but it seems like a local non-organic peach would be fine, since consuming non-organic non-local cherries were acceptable. What drives the decision on which type of produce to consume?
KathEats says
Usually what’s on sale and available. If I have a choice between organic and no, then I opt for it (for the dirty dozen). Example: blueberries. If I don’t have a choice, then I just eat what I want (example = cherries). I do have a choice with the peaches – but it’s trading one thing for another.
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Cold salmon leftovers the next day is the best! I always like to save a little extra fish for dinner the next night…yummy!
Brie @ Coxswain Dilemma says
mmm roasted fennel!
Nicole says
I always go local > organic. I make the effort to find organic peaches, but your right, they are hard to find. Unfortunately there is no such thing as local peaches in MN – so I opt for US grown, organic if I can.
Rachel says
I haven’t had lemonade in so long.. looks good 🙂 I would say you did the right thing… I know I’m not concerned where my fruit comes from but I’m also not pregnant… but I think if I were I’d do the same as you.
Erin says
I was u-picking some non-organic blueberries last weekend and ran into a local farmer also picking berries. He said the worst thing you can do is buy produce from out of the country because they don’t have many regulations. He said the US has such strict spraying rules that eating non-organic isn’t too bad. Another local>organic vote, although local and organic would be my favorite!
Suzanne says
I have never tried goat cheese…..I know…….*gasp* but its on my too do list.
I love love love love salmon!
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
I have the same dilemma with peaches. Finding local, unsprayed is almost impossible. Our compromise is limiting our intake of local peaches. For our 12-month old, I cut off the skin since that’s where most of the pesticide residue is concentrated, even after a good washing rub-down with a towel.
Hopefully one day we’ll have our own peach tree. Maybe you and Matt can plant a tree in your back yard? It’s really only large operations with lots of trees that need to spray, so you can grow your own without the need for chemicals, especially if you don’t mind a few blemishes. I say chemical-free > perfect appearance any day!
Nancy says
We used to have a peach tree in our back yard and I can tell you that it is pretty much impossible to get peaches without spraying (unless you like them full of worms). We were pretty clueless on the whole process, it is tricky to spray at just the right time. We had better luck with the plum tree, but still had to cut around worms at times.
Stepf says
I had a peach tree and also battled worms… on the inside. Found them after I’d spent hours picking, blanching, and peeling them. I picked around the worms, and they were fine.
Regina says
When we first found out we were pregnant we invested in a jumbo sized organic fruit & veggie wash at Whole Foods. We use it in a spray bottle to wash all of our fruits and veggies thoroughly. It’d try that if you couldn’t go organic for the dirty dozen 🙂
Michelle (Peachy Palate) says
Local and wash for sure!
eal4c says
I might see if you can find peaches from Tim Henley next time – I know they sell them at IY. He is low-spray and about as close to “organic” as you can get with peaches. My understanding from conversations I’ve had with farmers is that it is next to impossible to grow peaches without some spraying. Good luck!
KathEats says
Oh cool – I’ll look for him
Kristi @ Hiding in Honduras says
I’m preggers too and have been having this same inner debate. If it were a dish at a potluck or my parent’s house, I’d eat it and not fret over organic or not. But when I’m buying for myself and in a higher quantity I definitely choose organic over local. I think by asking the farmers if they spray, then deciding with your dollars, over time it might encourage them to opt for organic. And I justify the non-local purchases by buying local and supporting local small businesses in every other way possible. Tough one though!
KathEats says
Totally agree with you re. dinner party and/or gifts
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I would buy whatever is on sale and looks the best and the freshest because I go by how it looks and price; and unfortunately, some of the certified organic food is so expensive that it just lingers in the grocery store, doesn’t move, doesn’t look fresh – and the conventional looks so much better, better prices so it sells, and I would rather eat a sprayed peach that’s fresh than a non-sprayed one that’s been sitting around. Visual cues is what i go by.
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
I totally agree with Averie. The organic produce in our grocery store never looks good. I always check out the organic but I buy local first. It always ends up being the freshest anyways!
Anne Weber-Falk says
Looks are not everything. Many organic items are not pretty but taste great.
Ashley @ Hudson on the Potomac says
I admire your fuzzy peach skin eating ways! I can’t get over the skin and always have to peel mine, making for very sticky fingers. I would opt for local over organic as well.
Sarah W. says
local would be my preference…but organic if possible.
also, i’m sure you’ve answered this before but how do you make your lemonade water? and is it sparkling water? been trying to lay off the caffeine and diet sodas but water is rather plain these days. trying to figure out a way (that’s not overly caloric) that helps me want to drink more. 🙂
KathEats says
Our sparkling water is in the basement, so I often don’t bother to go get some. Just do an ounce of lemonade and the rest water.
Cait's Plate says
Looks like my kinda lunch!
Jessica @ New Girl, New City says
I used to work for a local farm that grew peaches and I had no problem eating them nor recommending them. They wanted to go Organic but there are SO many loopholes you have to jump through and do such and such for years and years.. it just wasn’t worth it financially. BUT they tried to use the least amount of pesticides as possible.
KathEats says
I’d be totally fine if they were spray free but not organic.
Becky says
We have a peach tree in our yard and I can tell you, it’s hard as heck to grow peaches organically. I know someone mentioned Henley’s and yes, they are as close to organic as you are going to get. You can drive out to the orchard (which is located sort of in between White Hall & Crozet), but you can also find his peaches (and apples!) at both IY and Reid’s, which are both known for their local produce selection.
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
Seriously. It drives me BANANAS. You go to the farmer’s market, hopinggggg for organic produce, but most of the time it’s sprayed. That’s bull. Give me some dat organic sheet.
jen says
I struggle with this decision all the time when it comes to feeding my 1 year old fruits and veggies. Like you said in a reply to one of the comments above, I usually go on what’s available and affordable, so we’ve both been eating cherries this summer even though they’re not local or organic (but, um… we love cherries!). For her I peel things like peaches that are easy to peel and I know are likely heavily sprayed.
And then I try to just enjoy it and not worry too much once the decision is made! Sometimes food decisions can all feel so weighty now… with organic, local, sustainable, etc. to consider… that it can drain the pleasure right out of eating.
Tiffany says
Hey Kath,
This isn’t related to your blog post but I was curious to know why white potatoes have a bad reputation? As an RD what is your perspective?
I understand that fried potatoes are unhealthy but what about potatoes dressed in a little bit of olive oil and baked? I don’t consider them to be unhealthy…everything in moderation is what i believe in.
Thank you! As always beautiful pictures!! And one more thing I am so curious about, When you take pictures of your hot oatmeal…doesn’t it get cold? If so, Thank you so much for sacrificing your hot oats to take gorgeous photos!!
KathEats says
I don’t have a problem with white potatoes at all! They have a higher glycemic index but they are real food and nutritious. I eat them often.
And nope – sometimes my oatmeal is still piping hot and I still have to let it cool after the photos! Now the times I’ve put my oats in a pile of snow…that was dumb 🙂
Megan @ The I Do Diaries says
What a beautifully put together lunch! Some of my favorites there: salmon, goat cheese and beets. I’ve recently rediscovered just how versatile goat cheese can be, so good! I’ve started putting it on whole wheat crust pizza with a drizzle of honey and sprinkle of rosemary. So simple and delicious.
Angel7 says
I would personally buy the local peaches, & wash them good!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Jennifer says
Hello, a friend of mine referred me to your site last week and I am super hooked! I made one of those smoothies in a bowl..well my own version of it with what I had on hand and it was amazing. Spooning it really does make you savor it more. Now, with the lemonade water…do you just dilute lemonade with water…what is this drink I have read you drinking quite a lot since reading older posts??? And do you make the lemonade yourself?
KathEats says
Welcome Jennifer! I put about 1 ounce of Santa Cruz raspberry lemonade in a jar and fill the rest with water + ice!
Jennifer says
Sounds simple enough to me. What is the reasoning behind doing this versus just drinking the lemonade…calories? Is it too sweet? Easier way to drink lots of water?
Just curious. I’m going to try this tonight. Lucky for me I pass a whole foods on the way home every day (always so much harder to resist going in when you walk by it every day…driving I can image would be easier to pass by)
KathEats says
All of the above you said!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
Yummy!!! Goat cheese can be such an awesome complement in some dishes. I love it on an arugula salad! When is your due date again? You must be getting SO excited!
KathEats says
8/31!
Robin says
How do you feel about those fruit & veggie wash solutions that they have in some produce sections? I have seen them available for purchase at Whole Foods, but haven’t looked into them much. I’ve also read that you can soak fruit in a vinegar/water solution, but I’m not sure if this would affect the taste.
KathEats says
They seem like a pain to me. I just wash and scrub and use some dish soap if it’s really dirty
Andrea says
I make my own fruit and veggie wash out of water, vinegar, and lemon juice and keep it in a spray bottle and it doesn’t affect the taste at all 🙂
Amanda M says
I find the vinegar solution really does help with shelf life! Because I live in Alaska (on an island, no less) the produce we get here can be old. And we only get food shipments Tuesday nights, so Wednesday/Thursday are stock-up days. By Sunday, there is usually no produce left – same for proteins, milk, eggs, and sometimes certain dry goods. But I can get my fruit to last a week if not more. I currently have some 2 weeks old (since I bought them) grapes in the fridge. Still good!
Clizia says
How do you go about using the vinegar solution, Amanda? Do you soak your fruit or spray it? Do you make your own solution? Sorry about the string of questions, I’d love to find a natural way to make my fruit last a bit longer 🙂
Amanda M says
I fill up my sink with enough water to cover everything, and just add a cup or two of vinegar- I enough so that I can smell the vinegar when I get close to the water, but not overpowering. Let soak for 10 minutes then rinse. Some websites say 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar, but I probably use about 6 to 1.
Jules @ La Petite Maison Verte says
Love the look of the peach with that goat cheese – bliss!
Jamie says
What are the ingredients in your lemonade water? Looks so refreshing!
KathEats says
Lemonade and water!! 🙂 I use about an ounce of Santa Cruz raspberry lemonade and fill the rest with ice and water.
Dina says
I’m having that same debate with myself every time I go to Whole Foods!! I’m in Georgia, but still the organic peaches were not local. Go figure! I opted for the organic, b/c I only buy organic for absolutely everything, but I did feel bad about it! Buying less peaches is not an option because I could live on stone fruit alone.. 🙂
Anne Weber-Falk says
So many things to consider. For years we ate foods that were heavily sprayed with who knows what. We fed our babies from jars that contained food that was also sprayed. There was a time when eating local did not exist unless you picked it from your own land. Many living in the inner city don’t have the advantage of buying good local produce. We are very fortunate now that we have a choice, most of the time. If you really want to avoid the spraying issue then I would just eat something else. Let those local farmers know that there is a market out there for organic.
Gillian G. @ When Bread Is Broken says
That local v. organic problem is such a PIA – the more (non-industry-financed) studies they do on sprays, the more scared I am of them, but I also hate supporting the huge organic corporations. I think I’d probably slant more toward organic for purely selfish, keep-that-crap-out-of-my-body purposes but man, it’s definitely an internal conflict. But either way your lunch looks lovely 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Man I need to get my hands on some peaches!! They look so good!!!
Nancy says
http://foodthinkforum.blogspot.com/2012/05/real-dirty-dozen-deal.html
Interesting perspective
KathEats says
Great article, thanks!
Annette @FitnessPerks says
I LOVE peaches!!!
susan says
Man that looks really good, i’m going to see if i can make this.
Jennifer says
I recently listened to a story on NPR about how transporting food long distances actually doesn’t use that much greenhouse gases. I was shocked how little. Pretty sure it was on Marketplace and I think it was a Freakanomics piece.
Of course that has nothing to do with supporting local businesses and farmers.
Aly says
Hi Kath! Have you ever tried washing non-organic fruit in an apple cider/water solution? If you cannot buy organic fruit, soak it in a 3-1 ratio water to vinegar for about 20 minutes. I use the Bragg’s Raw apple cider vinegar. The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit.
MegS @ Beauty of Meg says
I am totally going to try goat cheese. I can’t believe that I haven’t tried it before!
I have to get groceries tonight so I am going to get some 🙂
Cindy says
So I was just thinking about this same issue (local vs organic if those are the only two options) but with regard to making baby food for my 7 month old. What do you think you’d choose in that instance? Also that I’d likely peel the skin off anything I give to him? it’s a dilemma!
Kate says
I’m not Kath but I’ve thought about this quite often. Typically I buy organic whenever possible. Buying everything organic can get quite spendy! I do love a good local farmer’s market so I try to buy the clean 15 from the farmer’s market and the dirty dozen from the grocery store. I think it all depends on your train of thought when it comes to why you want to eat organically/locally. For me, I try to eat organically both to better the environment and also because I wonder what these chemicals are doing to our bodies. At the same time, I do also think it’s important to support local farmers. Whichever you choose, you and your baby will still be getting the benefits from eating the fruit/veg regardless of whether or not it’s organic. (As far as the dirty dozen goes- peeling the skin will not necessarily help because the pesticides penetrate down to the fruit/veg.)
Cindy says
Thanks! A good perspective!
Kate says
Thanks! Anytime! 🙂
Amanda M says
I miss local produce! In Alaska, nothing is local (well, except a few $5 a pound tomatoes). And by the time its gotten here, the produce we get is usually…unattractive.
Lena Berard says
Off topic, but wanted to say that we drove through C’ville on our way to Shenandoah valley campground and I had to tell my sister how excited I was just to be driving through here because I read your blog. Next time I will have to stop and visit. Of course she looked at me like I was crazy lol!
KathEats says
Haha fun! Do stop in next time 🙂
Jillian says
What wonderful eats! I had goat cheese today for the first time in years—it. was. so. delicious.
Kate says
Yum! Goat cheese and beets are one of my favorite combos! Have you tried goat cheese and cataloupe? A little goat cheese sprinkled on top of a bowl of mixed berries with a tiny drizzle of balsamic glaze is also really delish. Goat cheese wasn’t exactly love at first taste, but after a few tries I’ve come to love it. Can you tell?
Mary says
I work on a small local farm and am friends with a number of other small local farmers. While they do spray, they often do in way lower amounts than factory farms and with much lower doses of chemicals. Plus, their applications are more direct, which can minimize contact with fruit. Of course, that may not be true of where you live.
Liz says
I’m pretty much all about the local produce – it just tastes better, hasn’t been transported from far away & supports local businesses. Personally, I have to say I don’t really pay attention to the so-called ‘dirty’ & ‘clean’ produce. I suppose I probably should…but I’m not completely convinced of how necessary it really is.
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
My Weight Watchers leader gave me a recipe for a spray to use on fruits and veggies. I have to find it. I’ll share it when I do.
Tara says
I was happy to find some organic peaches at the farmer’s market last weekend and bought a half a peck so I could freeze some for later. Guess that’s one of the perks of living in the true peach state, SC 😉
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I always opt for local over organic! I’d much rather support local farmers and eat food that hasn’t come from hundreds or thousands of miles away!